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Welcome Parker! UT Student and R&S Employee · Champions of Life

welcome to the champions of life podcast where 3 orangeblooded Tennessee alums discuss how there's always next year Hey, welcome back to the Champions of Live podcast.
It's Laney.
And today actually, there is no Joe and there is no Bobby.
They are with us in spirit, but not with us in the room.
We have Parker Jackson.
He is one of our warehouse as.
In Knoxville.
And then Casey Roth, she is at our corporate office.
She does a ton of things, and she's gonna be the guest mc today.
So Casey, what do you have for us? Thanks for having me.
I'm really excited to be here.
Excited to be talking about the latest recap of some UT sports and to also get to be talking to Parker today.
So as, in custom champions of life fashion, let's hear at Laney and Parker.
What are the recent, things we need to discuss? Oh, there's so many, right, Parker.
Okay.
So the last one we did, Bobby was headed to the Texas a and m game.
Yep.
Which.
That was, that was a little rough,, it was unfortunate, you know? Were you there? I was not there.
Okay.
I opted not to go.
Okay.
I've lost a little bit of my faith in UT Sports, but I've been going to a few of the other games.
I remember watching, I was watching the ball game.
I can't say I'm not happy that Max Gilbert's gone.
I Oh yeah.
I think it's a little unfortunate for him.
I do feel bad for him.
I saw him at Elz a few days before the game.
He was just like eating and I forget that.
He's just like a real person.
He's like a normal guy.
I feel bad for him 'cause I mean, there's been multiple.
Moments in the season, like the Georgia game and that game was just like come down to clutch moments and we've missed the kicks.
But yes, it is sad.
And so, yeah.
Did we say you are a current UT student? So what year are you? Yes, I'm currently a junior at Knoxville.
I'm studying supply chain.
Okay.
Supply chain.
Yeah, so we followed up the a and m game with the horrific loss to Kentucky.
Were you there? I was not there.
Okay.
I was in Colorado for that game.
I was watching at the airport.
I missed the Florida game as well.
But I watched both of those online.
The Florida game.
That one you kind of knew was over before it was over.
Yes.
But the Kentucky game went down to the last second and it was, it was unfortunate, but yeah.
You know, I told Joe and Bobby yesterday, we, we had a debrief about just where we are with Tennessee sports.
I said, you know, I finished the weekend.
I didn't watch the Vanderbilt game.
They lost, but they're ranked, you know, 10th.
Yeah.
I don't know where they are this week, but it was just a sobering feeling of.
2026 is the year that Vanderbilt football and basketball finishes ahead of Tennessee.
Mm-hmm.
And you're a good bit younger.
I don't even know.
Like you don't understand how difficult it is for me to say that and to come to that, come to grips without reality, but it's rough.
I mean, in the little time that I've been at Tennessee, you just always know Vanderbilt's like the little brother, and I just feel like the fact that.
They're kind of trumping over us.
This year is very, it's very hard to watch.
Yeah.
But, um, especially with Diego Pavia, he was very, uh, very proud.
Mm-hmm.
But, uh, owning, he's gonna own the state, right? Yep, yep.
Yep.
All right.
Well, so, Tennessee is not, not doing so good right now.
The baseball's coming up, maybe baseball.
Yes.
Yes.
We've always got baseball.
Uh, yep.
We'll see what happens there.
You need some reconstruction on the stadium, I believe.
Yes.
Add some additions, so hopefully that'll be good.
The stadium will be done.
Yeah.
Hopefully, uh, you know, Tony v we're still, it's not gonna be the same, but I can't blame him.
I mean, that's a great offer.
I think he's the first college coach ever to move to the big leagues, so.
As much as I hate to see him go.
I think, what's the new guy's name? I forget his name.
He's gonna be good though.
Oh, he was the, coach.
Yeah.
He's a third base coach.
Yeah.
Third base coach.
I don't, I'm blank on his, I can picture him right now, but Same.
Yeah.
We talked about it before.
Yeah.
On the podcast.
I know Joe and Bobby are, we're hopeful.
So we'll see.
I'm as well.
Okay, so let's get into why Parker is here today.
Parker, do you wanna recap just a little more briefly, just tell us about yourself, what you're studying at ut.
Mm-hmm.
Um, and tell us too, like how do, like how are you on this podcast? How'd you get to know RNS? Tell us a little bit about that.
Sure.
So I am currently a junior studying supply chain management with a collateral information management.
I'm from Charlotte, North Carolina.
I came to UT because my grandfather lives in Oak Ridge, so I figured I'd just tour and then I came here and I loved it.
And I came here undecided.
And then I ended up switching to supply chain after I took a class in sophomore year.
And so I went to a career fair sophomore year.
I wasn't really too hopeful about it.
I printed out about seven resumes.
I just know that's like a lucky number from the Bible for me.
I was like, I'll just print out seven resumes, just go for it.
And so I showed up to the career fair with seven resumes.
I turned my first six in.
I had one more left and I was thinking, okay, I'm just gonna find somewhere to go turn that resume in and then.
I see the bright red RNS stand and I figure I'd just go up there and talk to him.
And so I go up and I talk to, I think it was Tristan, maybe Joe was there as well.
And so I turned my seventh resume in there.
I started talking to them.
I found out it's a Christian warehousing company.
Like they're like super close to campus, like five minutes away from campus.
And I lived on campus and so I was like, it's a great opportunity.
And so I went and I initially interviewed for the internship as a sophomore and I wasn't really thinking to get it.
Ended up not getting the internship.
I think they took one person that summer.
And then I worked at a summer camp and I got a call from Tristan about a third away through the summer, and he asked me if I would like to come work as a warehouse associate.
And I thought it'd be a great opportunity, just like five minutes off campus.
Great.
To work at during the semester and now I'm here.
But yeah.
Wow.
Really that's So we were the seventh.
Yep.
Yeah.
You be all over the seventh.
Wow.
That's so crazy.
It's just like one of those like.
God thinks.
I was just like, yeah, I'm just gonna, it was like, maybe I'll do five, I'll just do seven might as well.
And then I just, I had a list of like five I wanted to go to, so I went to five and then one more, and I was like, actually gotta do seventh.
And I went to RS and then now I worked there and it's been great.
We're lucky that we got to be the seventh.
I love it.
So far it's been, I guess six months by now.
But yeah, I've loved it so far and then now I'm here to.
Talk sports and also talk about the classroom next semester and the on campus.
Well, and do you mind me asking for those who maybe don't know what a warehouse associate is Yeah.
Or what that means, especially in the three PL world or the supply chain world.
Tell us a little bit about what does that mean you do at Yeah, for sure.
Harness.
So I am picking and packing parcels and LTLs and things like that.
And so I'm driving what's called an order picker.
It's like a standup forklift where the forks are on the back.
That's what I drive most of the time.
And so for the parcels, those are like the things that show up in your doorstep.
I'm just picking those up.
Putting them on the shelf and then Brian sends them out.
And for the LTLs um, I'm getting multiple big boxes and putting 'em on a pallet and then wrapping them in industrial wrapper.
And so that's what I do on a day to day.
It's very flexible schedule.
I still have time to go to classes, things like that.
And I'm truly enjoyed it so far.
A lot of great coworkers.
So, yeah.
What have been a, I guess a few of the things you've learned, since like real world practical experience working in a three deal warehouse and connecting with your background and your major of wanting to pursue supply chain? What that Yeah, for sure.
I feel like wanting to pursue supply chain, like supply chain is everywhere in business.
I feel like it's always been in the background of business and it's really in the past 20 or 30 years.
I don't even think it was a major 20 or 30 years ago, but it's starting to come to the forefront now and it's kind of cool to see that.
And I feel like if I want to pursue a career in supply chain, I feel like the Warehouse is the perfect place to start because you get to see those like kind of behind the scenes workings of the warehouse because supply chain could be anything from manufacturing to transportation, to warehousing, anything like that.
And so it's good to see the warehousing aspect of it.
It's good to see the, my Collaterals, information management.
So it's good to see like the management systems going on beyond the scenes, things like that.
And, yeah, I've just, I've learned a lot being like, I took the class that they're gonna be doing on campus and insight with RS logistics.
I did that last semester.
So it's cool to see that going on, like take that class while I was on the field in the RS logistics as well.
Like, it was very cool to do both of those at once, for sure.
Oh, it is.
Yeah, I have to ask too, because obviously this is such a core component.
'cause I mean, anybody could offer a three PL class at any university, although of course UT has like the number three globally ranked supply chain program.
Mm-hmm.
Across the nation.
So that's a big deal.
But then also, you know, R Ns has a unique culture for sure.
Mm-hmm.
And I know I'd love to hear Laney speak to this a little bit, and then I'd love to also hear Parker speak to a little bit of the culture and what that's like.
'cause that'll be such a core.
Integral part to the class.
Yeah.
This is, uh, this has been, I didn't know the supply chain world existed.
Mm-hmm.
I mean, I had never thought about it until, yeah.
I came into college exploratory.
I was undecided.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So until about a year and a half ago, I've been with RNS going on two years, and I had no idea.
Like this was even a thing, but it makes so much sense now that I'm in it.
It's like, well, of course this has to be an industry, like we need our toilet paper.
But truly like RNS is such a special group of people.
The leadership is, just one of a kind and, truly, I mean, I've worked a lot, most of my career, I've worked in the ministry world and, this has been my favorite place to work with the healthiest leadership around the healthiest people and, some of the funniest people too.
I mean, we laugh.
We laugh all day, every day.
And I know at the Warehouse, it's going on as well.
Yep.
So, yeah, it's just such a unique special culture and I it's a blessing to be a part of it.
Yeah, for sure.
I completely agree.
I feel like my, just even me being here has been such a God thing and it's been.
Incredible to get to be a part of RNS.
I feel like Tristan's been such a mentor to me as well.
Like it's been great.
I think I just mentioned wanting to tour one of the other locations sometime and he just, he set up an appointment for me to go tour one of the other locations right then and there, and that was awesome as well.
And it's just been great experience, great leadership.
Like they really work well with my schedule as well.
Like they're willing to, they acknowledge that I have classes and things like that and I've never felt stressed, like working at RNS, things like that.
Like when am I gonna have time for work and classes? If I have a test the next day, if I need to miss work, like Mason and Tristan are very flexible with that.
And it's just been an incredible work experience so far.
But yeah.
That's awesome.
So what do you foresee, I don't mean to take over here.
Go Casey.
I don't want to.
You're, those have your questions.
Um, but how do you foresee this class being something that can really benefit? Students who maybe they're, I guess they have to be in supply chain, they've gotta be a junior or senior.
Mm-hmm.
Um, but they've never really had a warehouse experience like this before.
Yeah.
So how could it benefit them, currently as a student, but then for their future careers? Yeah.
This is coming from someone who's benefited from warehouse experience, like at Rrn SI think that, like taking that class, I took the supply chain management four 13 last semester.
I think taking that class, like just by itself is very like interesting, but actually like.
Learning about A LTL versus like seeing what it is like two different things and like actually being on site.
Like I know for me personally, I'm a very hands-on interactive learner and I feel like for these students, I feel like being at the Warehouse, I know it was very helpful for me.
While being in a supply chain four 13 and being at the warehouse, I was able to put both of those things together and apply those concepts as well.
Learning in class to the warehouse, and I can see them doing the exact same thing.
Yeah.
That's great.
Joe said the same thing on the last podcast of Yeah, for sure.
He, you know, the classroom wasn't always his favorite place to be, but he loved the hands-on stuff.
Oh, yeah.
And if this had been something that was offered back then, it just would've been, such a blessing.
I mean, even my, like, just working in Rrn s I've learned more about logistics and supply chain that I have in like any of my classes so far.
Like that hands-on experience is truly invaluable.
That's great.
Yeah.
Parker, when you think about what's next? 'Cause I know you're coming up on your, you're I guess an upperclassmen now.
You're like, it's crazy.
Top dog here.
It's flying by.
What are you thinking next steps about just your career path and Yeah.
Your, what you're gonna do? Yeah, so this summer I'll be interning with PepsiCo in Plano, Texas.
So I'm interested to see what that'll be like.
They have not, they will assign me like a designated team within the supply chain realm.
Closer time.
Right now I'm just labeled as a supply chain intern, but they could place me on the warehousing team, transportation team, something like that.
But.
I'll be there for 10 weeks this summer.
I'm very interested to see what that's like because I do, I love the dynamic of like a smaller, more tight-knit company like RNS.
So I'm very interested to see how it's gonna be like going from that to like one of the biggest supply chain industries that there is.
And so I'll be at the FritoLay headquarters in Plano for 10 weeks.
So I'm very interested to see how that goes.
I'm not sure if that's something I'll stick with.
We'll see if I like it this summer, we will see, but I think it'll be a great experience regardless.
I'm excited to see like.
How I can apply my experience from RNS to that and seeing where it takes me.
But yeah.
Awesome.
We're excited for you.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
I appreciate it.
I'm looking forward to it as well.
Anything else? It's great.
Um, do you have a favorite story or, some embarrassing material? Oh, gosh.
On someone at K one, no, you don't have to name names Parker.
But, uh, anything on the way out the door that would make us chuckle? Putting you on the spot here.
It's okay if not.
I have a funny story about how I met Aiden.
I knew Aiden before I started working at RNS and so Aiden and I studied abroad in Greece together.
And so we were just, this was like a few months after I'd interviewed for the Rrn s internship before I started working at camp.
So I didn't know if I was gonna be working at RNS yet.
So he was just like randomly my roommate on his trip.
And so I'm like getting to know him and ask him like what he does.
'cause this is a supply chain trip to Greece.
And so it's all supply chain students.
And he's mentioning how he is working at RNS.
I'm like, oh, like that's awesome.
And then I think literally the week after I left Greece is like when Tristan called me and he's oh, do you wanna come work at RNS in July? And then I gave in a call.
I was like, so I'm gonna be working with you now.
Oh, that's awesome.
Let's see you at work in July.
It was just, I feel like there's been so many just like random God things just from oh, like this is leading you to RNS and all this kinda stuff, but not really a funny story.
Just like an interesting story, how that worked out.
Yeah.
But uh, but yeah.
Wow.
That's really cool.
Yep.
Yep.
Thank y'all for having me on.
I appreciate it.
Yeah.
Thank you Casey for MCing and helping this process.
So today is officially the first day of the class.
Yeah.
Uh, so when this comes out, they'll start in a few hours from now, I think.
Well when this comes out, it'll probably be a little after that, but yeah.
Yeah, so, uh, definitely looking forward to what the next seven weeks holds and yeah, I think it's gonna be a great thing for ut but also for RNS.
So, thanks for listening.
Hope you'll catch us next time on Champions of Life Podcast.